Learning theory of attachment

Question 1

Who proposed learning theory and what does the approach centre around?

Answer 1

• Dollard and Miller (1950)
• Emphasis on the caregiver as the provider of food

Question 2

Describe cupboard love

Answer 2

• Feigned affection to obtain food
• Infants learn to love who feeds them

Question 3

Classical conditioning

Answer 3

• Food (US), pleasure (UR), caregiver (NS)
• Pleasure of food associated with caregiver
• Caregiver (CS), Pleasure (CR)

Question 4

Operant conditioning

Answer 4

• Cry for comfort -> feeding
• Crying reinforced
• Crying directed to caregiver for comfort and caregiver responds (social suppressor)

Infant -> positively reinforced
Caregiver -> negatively reinforced (crying removed)
Mutual reinforcement strengthens attachment

Question 5

Drive reduction theory

Answer 5

• Hunger: primary drive (innate biological motivator)
• Sears et al: Because caregiver provides food, primary drive of hunger becomes generalised to them
• Attachment = secondary drive, learned by association between caregiver and satisfaction of primary drive

Question 6

Evaluation points

Answer 6

+ Based on well established approach supported by Pavlov + skinner = credible basis

• Animal studies contradict: Lorenz - imprinting = innate, Harlow - creature comfort> food in attachment

+ Conditioning could still explain attachment formation: associate comfort with caregiver

• Lack of support from human babies: Isabella et al: good quality attachment predicted by IS, Schaffer: most infants attach to mother (regardless of feeder)